The Purpose and Role of the Welsh Government Woodland Estate (WGWE)
The Welsh Government Woodland Estate (WGWE), that is land owned by Welsh Government and managed by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) for us – the people of Wales, represents 6% of land area in Wales – or 126,000 ha. This represents 40% of the total Welsh forest resource.
The majority (84%) of the WGWE is made up of conifers, important species for the housing construction sector. In 2016 /17 the WGWE supplied 840,000 cubic meters of sustainable managed timber, making it the largest supplier of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) certified timber in Wales.
The document, The Purpose and Role of the Welsh Governement Woodland Estate, sets out the four key principles about the good that the WGWE will deliver over the next 25 years. The four key principles are:
First principle. That it is a woodland estate, and the land should remain as woodland, and that the woodland area on the estate should be bigger in 25 years than it is today.
Second principle. That the estate will continue to be using the UK Forestry Standard as the benchmark, with commitment to retain the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification labels for the products of the woodland.
Third principle. The estate should work for all the people of Wales. Manged so that there is collaboration with others, especially with communities and those who have an interest in woodland and natural resources, to support the well-being of Wales.
Fourth principle. The estate should contribute to prosperity for all people in Wales and there should be reinvestment of income from the woodland estate in its sustainable management.
Read more here.
